Tour du Mont Thabor in La Vallée de la Clarée: The Family-Friendly Trek

Mont Thabor is a 3,178 meter high mountain in the Massif des Cerces Range, in the Hautes-Alpes in France. Although beautiful, we are more interested in the trails around this peak, especially the ones starting the picturesque town of Névache. This village can be found in Vallée de la Clarée and is one of the Alps' best-kept secrets. Sure, Chamonix is great, Courmayeur is fantastic, and, Zermatt is perhaps Mecca, but Névache has it all when looking for an unspoiled hiking experience.

Although in France, logistics to Névache from Turin seem easier. The valley can be easily reached from the SS335/E70 main route between French Fourneaux and Italian Turin. Coming from the French side, Névache is basically at the end of the quiet road from Grenoble to Briancon. No wonder, the Tour du Mont Thabor is a bit of a secret. The Tour du Mont Thabor is one of the Grande Randonnées (GR), a name given to long-distance walks in this part of the world, and has been given the number 57. The full GR57 is about 85 kilometers in distance and gives you over 5,000 meters vertical gain.

In Vallée de la Clarée, around Mont Thabor, you can find an array of mountain huts, known as refuges and gites. On a longer version of the tour, these huts can be used for both sleeping and mid-day aid stations. On a shorter tour, the aid stations can become your accommodation for the night. Because there are so many different refuges, the Tour du Mont Thabor can be designed in such a way that not only seasoned mountain goats can get their satisfaction, but the young and aspiring goats will also have a good time.

The route has no technical difficulties and is suitable for anyone with a decent physical condition. This leaves time for long picnic breaks at the mountain lakes, fantastic views from the peaks, and a drink on the terrace of a mountain hut at the end of the day. Is it for you? If you are looking for a challenge but don't want to take it straight to Everest Base Camp, hiking in Vallée de la Clarée could be a good stepping stone. Long story short? Yes, this trek is most likely for you!

At Bookatrekking.com we like to do things properly and when it's about accommodation on our Alpine treks, this means you should stay in refuges. Refuge is the French name for a hut where mountaineers can enjoy a bed, a meal, and, in most cases, even a fresh draught or good glass of wine. In some cases, refuges are owned by the Alpine Club, in France, this can be the Fédération Francais des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne (FFCAM). What all these mountain huts have in common is their unusual locations: In the most remote spots in the Alps you can check into these little safe havens.

Most huts offer a half-board pension, which includes breakfast and dinner. We highly recommend choosing this option. Having a warm meal waiting for you at the hut is not only a great way to end a long day of hiking, but it will also make your luggage lighter. Carrying your own food during the trek will mean extra weight on your back.

The official season is from mid-June to mid-September, but when you hike the Tour du Mont Thabor or anywhere else in Vallée de la Clarée between mid-July and late August the chances for good weather and snow-free trails. It’s peak season, so make sure to book as much in advance as possible. If you decide to go trekking in September, you’re still in for a treat and it’s not as busy on the trail. But this could also mean that some accommodations might be closed for the season already. Also, the days are shorter, the weather is colder and there is a chance of snow.

Because the Tour du Mont Thabor is essentially a circuit, you could technically start your version of the trek from anywhere. However, we like Névache as a starting point and that is why we believe you should start and finish your trek in Névache too. We have already told you that it is not particularly easy or straightforward, getting to Névache and Vallée de la Clarée. Part of the charm and beauty of the valley comes from its remoteness. The journey is part of the adventure and of course well worth it!

By plane

You can either fly to Turin in Italy, which is about 1.5 hours away from Névache, or you can fly to Marseille or Grenoble on the French side. Both these cities are about 3.5 hours away from Névache. You would then still have to get to the nearest train station (Marseille and Grenoble) and travel to Briançon. This is the closest train station.

By train

The closest train station is Briançon in France and Bardonnechia and Oulx in Italy. There's a night train from Paris to Briançon, where you can hop on a shuttle bus (Linkbus) to Névache. Also, you can take the TGV train on the Paris-Milan line from Paris to Oulx. From here you can also get a shuttle to Briançon and thus Névache.

By car

Assuming you come out of the direction of Paris, you will want to drive to Italy first and approach Névache from the Oulx side. From Bardonecchia, you will climb the Echelle Passe (Colle della Scala) towards Vallée de la Clarée.

The prices for hut-to-hut tours in the Alps are quite varied. There are several variables to take into account when it comes to how much this trek costs: the type of accommodation, which can be in a shared dormitory or a private room in a hut, or also at a hotel in a town; How many days you will be spending on the mountain and whether you will be doing the full circuit or only a section; whether you will be doing it self-guided or with a guided group. The price of the trek will depend on your expectations for the tour.

A situation is defined as an emergency whenever human life (yours or someone else's) is endangered and there is nothing you can do to resolve the matter. You should call for help if there has been an accident, if there is somebody trapped, if you got lost or in trouble and are unable to continue because of the time of day or weather conditions, or if you are trapped because of technical climbing challenges that exceed your capabilities.

The most important thing to do in an emergency is to stay calm and survey the situation. Do not panic or take useless risks if the people in trouble are difficult to reach. In an emergency, first and foremost, call for assistance. When calling for help, make sure to provide your location and the number of victims and type of injuries. Then, protect the victim from cold and other environmental threats and administer first aid, if you can.

Useful emergency phone numbers

• France General Emergencies: 112
• PGHM de Briançon: +33 4 92 21 58 58